fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, the only factory breeding sterile flies in the Western Hemisphere was in Panama, but the USDA invested $21 million to convert a site in southern Mexico from breeding fruit flies to recently start breeding screwworm flies. — John Hanna, Fortune, 8 July 2026

One Tarrant County restaurant was temporarily closed, and roaches and an accumulation of fruit flies were seen at others during the latest round of county health inspections, according to the inspection reports. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026

For the most recent earnings season, these forecasting fruit flies buzzed around modeling 12% earnings growth for the quarter. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Small flies, like fruit flies, go for sugary, fermenting sources — think alcohol or fruit trays left sitting out. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fruit fly

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter